Byram Township Schools Strategic Plan Action Plan �2014-2018

The following slides have been shared at the 2-24-2016 Board meeting and are presented here to the community to share what has been accomplished to date regarding the strategic plan action plan and reaching its goals. The strategic plan was developed by the collaborative efforts of school, parents, students, and community members. It represents a five year plan toward a vision of what the collective group determined to be where they believed the district should work towards and look like in five years. The plan is a living document and is an ongoing effort to develop and achieve was set forth by the committee.

Byram Township Schools�Strategic Plan�Action Plan Goals and Objectives�2014-2018

Update

2-24-2016

Four Main Goals

• Goal #1: Student Achievement
• Goal Statement: Empower students to be passionate life-long learners who will achieve their highest potential, through rigorous and relevant learning experiences.

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• Goal #2: Finance and Facilities
• Goal Statement: Develop a finance and facilities plan that promotes student achievement

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Four Main Goals

• Goal #3: Culture and Climate
• Goal Statement: Enhance our district’s positive learning environment to enrich and empower students as to meet the needs of the whole child.

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• Goal #4: Communications and Community Partnerships
• Goal Statement: To provide greater opportunities for more communication and collaboration amongst stakeholders.

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��Goal #1: Student Achievement��

Goal Statement: Empower students to be passionate life-long learners who will achieve their highest potential, through rigorous and relevant learning experiences.

Objective: Maximize instructional time

Objective: Integrate technology to support student achievement

Objective: Increase professional development for staff to keep them current on best practices

Objective: Timely assessments to determine progress

Objective: Identify student motivators

Objective: Maximize instructional time

• Schedules were looked at to maximize instructional time, less ‘down time’
• Classroom were moved to improve proximity for grade levels (5^th/8^th Science)(Moving rooms at BLES)
• Analyzed and evaluated programs for effectiveness
• Differentiation of instruction is being encouraged through professional development

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Objective: Integrate technology to support student achievement�

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• BIS is 1:1 with Chromebooks
• SMARTboards in all instructional classrooms. All regular use, full classrooms have SMARTboards.  The spaces without are some of the SGI rooms and speech. 
• Old SMARTboards possibly being replaced with interactive TVs
• STEM lab up and running
• All teachers provided with laptops

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Objective: Integrate technology to support student achievement

• Increased mobile technology – more iPads, 5-8 1:1, 3^rd and 4^th have Chromebooks, Google Apps for Education.  Provides our email, calendar, file sharing (google drive), etc.  The student Chromebooks could not function if the students did not GAFE.
• Mass Media Class up and running, students creating video announcements
• Digital Library-the devices (Kindles) have been configured and loaded with some books.  The devices will be rolling out within the next few weeks now that our new library software is functioning.  Until recently there was no way to track the devices.

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�������Objective: Increase professional development for staff to keep them current on best practices�

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• Teachscape training for teacher evaluations
• Math PD for Envision series
• School Climate – Olweus at BIS and monthly student recognition programs at each school
• PD for New LA program at BLES
• Tech Training from outside vendor
• Other opportunities identified by staff
• Evidence Based multi sensory reading instruction – Wilson Language Program

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Objective: Identify student motivators�

• Allow student time to engage in in-depth real world issues – Interdisciplinary class
• Provide students with interest survey for possibility of future program/club offerings

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����Objective: Timely assessments to determine progress �

• STAR Reading program at BIS
• DRA at BLES
• Benchmark assessments – Language arts programs
• Envision Math
• BIS Interdisciplinary Period – teachers to use benchmark assessments to design real world problem solving activities/assignments for students

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Goal #2: Finance and Facilities�

Goal Statement: Develop a finance and facilities plan that promotes student achievement

Objective: Find alternative location to open space

Objective: Provide a full day kindergarten program

Objective: Improve district technology

Objective: Continue to re-evaluate school safety and security program

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Objective: Find alternative location to open space��

• Classes relocated to reduce/eliminate the use of open space
• Schedule created with shared classrooms where/when possible
• Possible reconfiguration of schools – not necessary at this time
• Art room moved to industrial arts room which created an available room in the new fifth grade wing. 8^th grade science room and 5^th grade science classes moved to be closer to other grade level classrooms

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Objective: Improve district technology�

• Identified tech needs of district based on curriculum and instruction
• Investigated technology pricing and quality of merchandise for value and long term use
• Identified and discarded obsolete technology – open space graveyard – Govdeals.com
• Always exploring new trends, not fads in technology – NJSBA, NJASA, Techspo
• Investigated audio needs in all classrooms
• Install audio enhancement system in classrooms – not yet we would like to pilot in a few classrooms first

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Objective: Continue to re-evaluate school safety and security program�

• Reconfigured main entrances in both buildings
• Installed/Updated new public address system in booth schools
• Investigated need for additional security cameras – in front of both schools showing parking lot, hallways in both buildings
• New door hardware in both buildings
• New school visitor id system in both buildings – Raptor
• Meet with Byram Police Department
• Always looking to improve areas of safety and security, safety film for windows, new security technology

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Objective: Provide a full day kindergarten program�

• Rationale provided to BOE
• Cohort survival report from township used to predict future enrollment numbers
• Evaluated furniture and resources needed
• Kindergarten staff visited other full day programs and reported back
• Presentation given to BOE on full day program
• Full day kindergarten program on BOE agenda
• Implementation of full day kindergarten program
• Full day kindergarten is currently in place

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Goal #3: Culture and Climate�

Goal Statement: Enhance our district’s positive learning environment to enrich and empower students as to meet the needs of the whole child.

Objective: Implement programs that help to connect all students and staff from grades Pre-K-8

Objective: Develop programs, clubs, and activities for students after school that promotes physical, academic and emotional growth

Objective: Increase cultural literacy and social responsibility through service learning projects

Objective: Increase parent input and involvement at school sponsored events

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Objective: Implement programs that help to connect all students and staff from grades Pre-K-8�

• Olweus School Culture/Climate program
• Morning announcements being made by students, Mass Media studio, Facebook, Twitter, district webpage, email
• Student recognition programs in both buildings
• Connected Calendars – Staff has shared calendars available to make them aware of activities
• Cross age experiences – students working with younger/older students from other building
• Staff team building activities – staff working together to accomplish tasks – Columbus PD day

Objective: Develop programs, clubs, and activities for students after school that promotes physical, academic and emotional growth

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• Student Government – Student Council re-established
• Provide students with interest survey to develop desired programs – after school & possibly during day
• Discussions about club interests
• Before/after school activities – Fit Club at BLES, Environmental Club at BLES, Minecraft Club at BIS introduced since plan implemented
• Programming Club being considered at BIS

Objective: Increase cultural literacy and social responsibility through service learning projects�

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• Recycling Program - continuing
• PEER Leadership Program - continuing
• Student Council – re-established

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Objective: Increase parent input and involvement at school sponsored events�

• Parent Programs: Technology Committee may be a part of Board Committees. New Technology Ad-Hoc Committee (may include students), to look closer at technology needsInternet Safety, School Climate Team, etc.
• Chrome Camp for Parents – meetings held for parents
• SCIP (School Improvement) Team – established in each school
• Student Projects/activities presented at BOE meetings by students

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Goal #4: Communications and Community Partnerships�

Goal Statement: To provide greater opportunities for more communication and collaboration amongst stakeholders.

Objective: To develop multiple means of communication and increase use of social media

Objective: To develop a common electronic calendar including school, civic, and non-profit groups

Objective: To develop and implement a survey to determine the needs and values of community members

Objective: To create programs to benefit the school and community using results of the survey

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Objective: To develop a common electronic calendar including school, civic, and non-profit groups�

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• Google Calendar Setup on website

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Objective: To develop multiple means of communication and increase use of social media�

• Introduction of Google Drive, email, websites, and Honeywell to keep parents informed of activities and events
• Increased use of Facebook and Twitter to communicate and share happenings in the district
• School Way App implemented

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Objective: To develop and implement a survey to determine the needs and values of community members�

• Parent Survey on School Climate - One was done last year and another is going out soon
• Community Survey on preferred educational workshops/training topics – Special Education Department held a couple of evening events utilizing outside vendors

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Objective: To create programs to benefit the school and community using results of the survey�

• Develop survey and analyze results for possible new programs based on student interest – To be done this spring for possible next school year implementation
• Create a regional parent/community group – LAKES (Leading All Kinds of Exceptional Students) – outside groups/agencies to provide workshops for community members – Special Education Department was in the process of laying the groundwork for this group. We will need to re-visit

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Thank You

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• To be continued…